Japanese people losing interest in Dokdo: poll

TOKYO, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Japanese people have grown less interested in South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, a recent poll by the Japanese government showed Saturday.

In the poll of 1,790 Japanese adults conducted by the Japan Cabinet Office in July, 59.3 percent said they are interested in Dokdo. The percentage marked a fall of 7.6 percentage points from 66.9 percent recorded in a similar survey three years ago.

The percentage of Japanese people, who denied interest in the East Sea islets, increased 6.5 points from 30.7 percent to 37.2 percent in the three-year period, according to the poll.

Seoul has steadily protested Tokyo's territorial claim to Dokdo in its defense white paper and textbooks. Located southeast of Ulleung Island of South Korea's North Gyeongsang Province, Dokdo consists of two small islets and a cluster of reefs. Since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korea has stationed a small police detachment there.

Of the Japanese respondents who showed interest in Dokdo, 73.5 percent said Japan's territorial claim to the islets is legitimate, the latest poll showed.

It also showed 64.7 percent of those who are not interested in Dokdo said the issue has nothing to do with their daily lives.

Another 31.4 percent said they have not had an opportunity to learn or think about Dokdo, while 19.7 percent said the issue is difficult.

Asked if they have heard of Dokdo, 93.8 percent said yes, down 1.3 percentage points from 95.1 percent recorded three years ago, the survey found.

ycm@yna.co.kr
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